Crate



Jan. 7, m6. c. o. EWELL 2,U26,%8

CRATE Filed Dec. 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l C. O. EWELL Jan. 7, 1936.

CRATE Fil ed Dec 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 7, 1936 STATES am ne PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

: ported by the end panels and held thereby against displacement.

A still further object is to provide a top closure in the form of a panel which can be easily held in closed position without requiring the use of special fastening means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

a In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate set up for use.

Figure 2 is an edge View of the crate collapsed or folded for storage.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the crate set up, a portion being shown in section.

Figure 4 is a section on line 3- Figure 3, portions being broken away and the top panel being shown in closed position.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the top portion of the crate showing the top panel released for removal. 7

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 Figure 3, the top panel being shown depressed for removal as in Figure 5.

In constructing the crate constituting the present invention there are provided four. wall panels, a bottom panel and a top panel. Each of the side wall panels has been indicated at A and comprises parallel top and bottom strips I and 2 connected at one side by spaced slats 3 formed preferably of veneer. The end wall panels which have been indicated at B are each formed of top and bottom strips 4 and 5 connected at their outer sides by slats 5 formed preferably of veneer. The strips 4 and 5 extend laterally beyond the slats 6 and the distance between these slats is slight- -ly greater than the overall height of each side panel A. Furthermore the slats 6 are located on the outer sides of the strips 4 and 5 to which they are fastened by staples or the like while the slats 3 of the side panels A are stapled or otherwise secured to the inner sides of strips I and 2.

The side panels are assembled with the end panels by positioning their ends between the projecting ends of the strips 4 and 5. The lapping portions of strips I and 4 and strips 2 and 5 are held together by means of rivets 8 or other suitable pivot devices so that it is thus possible for the panels to fold as shown in Figure 2.

The bottom panel of the crate has been indicated at C and includes thin cross strips 9 connecting parallel spaced slats I0. The slats and cross strips are all preferably formed of veneer and the overall length of the bottom panel C is substantially equal to the distance between the slats 6 of the two end panels when the crate is set up for use. The overall width of the bottom panel C is substantially equal to the distance be tween the slats 3 of the two side panels. Thus after the panels A and B have been positioned at right angles to each other, the bottom panel C can be inserted therebetween with its ends resting on the bottom strips 5 of the end panels and with its sides extending close to the slats 3 of the side panels.

The top panel or cover D comprises cross strips H and I2 which serve to connect spaced parallel slats [3 to which they are fastened by staples I4 or the like. The cross strips H and I2 are of a length substantially equal to the overall width of the crate when set up and the distance between the outer sides of the slats i3 is slightly less than the distance between the side panels A of the crate. The slats I3 project beyond strip H a short distance to form a retaining lip l5 adapted to extend under the strip #3 of one of the end panels while strip i i is bearing against the adjacent upwardly extending surface of said strip 4 as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4. The other ends of the slats 13 also extend short distances under the other cross strip 4 but the cross strip wardly from the sides thereof and can be secured thereto by staples or the like as shown.

After the crate has been set up and packed, the top panel D can be placed in position by inserting under one strip 4 one end of the top panel and the spacing strip I6 carried thereby. This will necessitate depressing one end of the top panel as shown in Figures 5 and 6. At this time the ends of strip I2 nearest spacing strip I6 will rest on the side panels A as shown in Figures 5 and 6. After the top panel has thus been positioned the free end thereof is pressed downwardly to bring the ends of strip II onto the side panels and to bring the lip I5 below the level of the adjacent strip 4. The entire top panel is then shifted longitudinally to withdraw the spacing strip i6 from under the strip 4 adjacent thereto. This action will result in moving the lip i5 under the adjacent strip 4 until stopped by contact of strip II with said strip 4. Approximately at the same time strip I6 will be withdrawn completely from beneath the adjacent strip 4 and will be sprung outwardly to the position shown in Figure 4 with the re sult that the top panel will thus be supported in closed position. It cannot be removed without depressing that end carrying the strip I6 and forcing the panel longitudinally to move strip I6 under the adjacent cross strip 4 and withdraw lip I5 from under the other strip 4, as shown in Figure 5.

The crate as illustrated is designed primarily for holding berry baskets but it is to be understood that it can also be employed for holding tomatoes and other vegetables. It is essential, where a crate is used for holding tomatoes and the like, that there be no sharp shoulders or corners presented to the interior of the crate which would be likely to cut, scar or otherwise mutilate the contents. Therefore, in order to adapt this crate for holding tomatoes, and the like the lower inner edges of the strips 4 are rounded as indicated at H and the upper ends of the slats 3 are beveled smoothly as indicated at I8. The rounded edges I! and the beveled ends I8 have the further advantage of guiding the bottom panel C into the crate while being set up and affording sufficient clearance to allow the bottom panel to swing downwardly into position after being inserted into the top of the crate.

The end strips 4 and 5 provide top and bottom ventilating spaces between them and these spaces are always open at the sides because the side strips I and 2 extend between strips 4 and 5. Thus when a number of crates are stacked with strips 4 of one bearing against strips 5 of the next crate, a transverse ventilating space of increased size is provided and this space is always unobstructed at the sides. Thus it is not necessary to use separate spacers as heretofore.

By using clinched nails for joining the lapping portions of the end and side strips they provide eificient pivots as well as connections and can be applied easily with ordinary nailing means in an assembly machine.

Obviously where the crate is to be used as a tomato lug a top panel might be employed differing from the panel D which has been shown and described.

'It will be noted that the entire structure can be cheaply made, is easily assembled, and provides a means whereby the contents can be securely held in place without the use of special fasteners.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible crate or lug comprising end panels having upper and lower strips on the inner sides thereof providing upper and lower ventilating spaces therebetween open at the sides of the structure, said strips projecting laterally beyond the open sides, side panels including upper and lower side strips on the outer sides thereof providing outside ventilating spaces therebetween open at the ends of the structure, said side strips being so located as not to obstruct the top and bottom ventilating spaces at the sides of the crate, said side strips extending between the projecting ends of the cross strips of the end panels to lap the same, clinched pivot nails extending through the lapping portions of the strips of the end and side panels and constituting the sole connections between the panels, a bottom panel removably mounted at its ends on the lower cross strips of the end panels and held against longitudinal displacement by the end panels and against lateral displacement by the side panels, the top and bottom cross strips on the end panels being so positioned that, when the crates or lugs are stacked, top and bottom ventilating areas of increased size are provided between the stacked crates which spaces are constantly open at their sides, and the top and bottom side strips of the crate or lug constituting means for engaging corresponding strips on similar crates or lugs when stacked at the sides thereof, thereby to provide open ended side ventilating areas of increased size between the crates or lugs when positioned side by side, and a top panel normally positioned to afford no obstruction in the said upper and lower ventilating spaces.

2. A collapsible crate or lug including side panels each having upper and lower strips on its outer side forming an open air space between the strips unobstructed at the ends of the side, end

panels each having upper and lower cross strips, the strips of the side panels being extended between and pivotally connected to the upper and lower strips of the end panels, a bottom panel removably supported by the lower strips of the end panels, the bottom strips of the end panels providing a transverse ventilating space therebetween beneath the bottom, said space opening under and unobstructed by the lower strips of the side panels, and a top panel engaging the top strips of the end panels, said top strips of the end panels forming a transverse air space therebetween opening over the upper strips of the side panels and unobstructed by the top panel.

CHARLES O. EWELL. 

